70 Door handle cutout

[Wayne B.]

Do I want to drill out the hole for the window crank the same diameter as on the back side of these panels or a smaller size? I don't have the original panels to check against and this is the first manual window Vette I've worked on.

Yep, they're genuine GM NOS deluxe door panels and I don't want to mess them up. I've been dragging these boxes around from one residence to another for years and finally get to break them out for installing ( ahhh I see the light at the end of the tunnel for this project).

[Jack H.]

Re: 70 Door handle cutout

Check your copy of the AIM. I have a vague recollection of the factory install process being to cut the vinyl in an 'X' pattern for the manual window crank...

[Alan S.]

Re: 70 Door handle cutout

Hi Wayne,
I checked my original 71 panels and the cut is the same size through the vinyl skin as through the fiberboard backing.
The hole is 1 1/2" in diameter and has 3 little ears cut out beyond the 1 1/2" perimeter of 3/16" each. The holes are at 1, 5, and about 9:30 o'clock on my panel. The ear cut outs are for the tabs on the window crank bezel, so you can check the exact position on your bezel. It doesn't seem to me to matter where on the circle the ears are cut as long as the spacing is correct for the bezel tabs.
I can post a picture this afternoon if you want to see the cut out first hand.
Original door panels!!!!! NICE!!!! I've been looking a long time for an original driver's-side, black, for my 71.
Regards,
Alan

[Warren F.]

Re: 70 Door handle cutout

Same here Alan. Only I need an NOS panel just like what Wayne Batchelor has!

[Wayne B.]

Re: 70 Door handle cutout

Thanks guys. Alan, I believe it's going to be tough to find new panels like those, I've had those squirreled away in their boxes for a number of years. They're the kind of parts you'd run back into a burning building to save